Late Surge Lifts Arandina Past Unionistas II, Snapping Skid and Igniting Hope at El Montecillo

ARANDA DE DUERO — In a contest marked by shifting fortunes and urgent stakes, Arandina CF found salvation late on Sunday afternoon, overturning a deficit with two second-half goals to claim a vital 2-1 victory over Unionistas de Salamanca B at Estadio El Montecillo. For a club mired near the foot of the Tercera División RFEF Group 8 table and desperate for momentum, the manner of this comeback may yet mark a turning point.

With the October sun glinting off the terraces, Arandina supporters arrived with more hope than confidence. Their side—winless in three and far from the dizzying heights expected at the start of the campaign—kicked off in 14th place, with only four points from their opening five matches. Unionistas II, for their part, had steadied their form with a high-scoring win over Bembibre last week and sat in relative comfort in mid-table.

Yet it was the visitors who struck first, issuing an early warning to a home defense that has too often buckled under pressure this autumn. In the 12th minute, Unionistas II capitalized on hesitant marking around the penalty area. Their forward, name unknown but decisive all the same, ghosted in behind and lashed home the opener, prompting an anxious hush to descend on El Montecillo. For Arandina, the concession was an all-too-familiar script—defensive lapses setting the tone, leaving the attack to chase the game.

The first half unfolded with Unionistas II happily inviting Arandina forward, content to threaten on the break. The hosts pressed, but lacked composure in the final third, with several half-chances skied or blocked by a disciplined visiting backline. A speculative drive midway through the half briefly tested the Unionistas goalkeeper, but as the whistle sounded for halftime the deficit endured, frustration lingering in the stands.

The second half began with more urgency from Arandina, who looked to shake off the inertia that has plagued their young campaign. Adjusting their shape, the home side seized midfield control, launching wave after wave of attack. Yet with every minute that passed without an equalizer, the evening threatened to slip away, another missed opportunity on a mounting list.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute. Surging down the left, Arandina pieced together their best move of the match—a quick exchange of passes slicing open the Unionistas II defense. A well-weighted cross found an Arandina attacker at the back post, who nodded home from close range to level the match. Roars of relief erupted from the home faithful, the weight of recent disappointments briefly forgotten.

With the momentum now firmly in their grasp, Arandina poured forward, emboldened by the taste of parity. Unionistas II, so composed for much of the contest, began to show signs of wear, dropping deeper and inviting pressure. Arandina pressed their advantage ruthlessly, and with six minutes remaining, the breakthrough came. A melee in the penalty area saw the ball spill free following a corner, and an Arandina forward reacted quickest—driving a low shot past the sprawling keeper. The stadium thundered its approval: 2-1, a season-starved home crowd finally celebrating more than mere hope.

No red cards marred the afternoon, but the yellow card tally reflected a game played on the edge, each side aware of the consequences. As stoppage time ticked away, Unionistas II mustered one final push, but Arandina’s defense—so often fragile—stood firm, repelling a late flurry to see out a victory that felt long overdue.

For Arandina, this win represents more than just three points. After losses to Guijuelo and Cultural Leonesa II and a dispiriting September, the comeback punctuates a statement of intent: this group, bruised but unbroken, is ready to fight for their place in the division. With five matches now played, they rise to 14th place with 4 points—a narrow margin, but with renewed optimism.

Unionistas II, meanwhile, are left to rue squandered control and a second-half fade that cost them their second win of the season. Now sitting 10th with 6 points from five matches, their campaign remains balanced on a knife-edge—steady, but far from spectacular.

The head-to-head history between these clubs has rarely featured such pivotal swings, and if October’s contest proves a preview, their next meeting may carry even greater stakes. As the league table tightens and the autumn fixtures grow in intensity, both sides face distinctly different pressures: Arandina, to build on the spark of a dramatic win; Unionistas II, to steady their course before inconsistency becomes crisis.

The final whistle brought jubilation for the hosts—a cathartic release after weeks of doubt. For Arandina and their supporters, Sunday may be remembered as the day their season began anew. For Unionistas II, it is a bitter lesson in the dangers of letting leads slip and in the unforgiving nature of football’s lower reaches. As October deepens, every fixture will demand the same urgency that defined El Montecillo’s sunlit drama.